The Art of DefiningBy Hanna Dixon

What’s in a name?Name = “a vocal sound which signifies by

agreement, and which does not have any part that signifies by itself”

If a vocal sound does not signify something, it is just gibberish

Some vocal sounds can signify something without being considered names or words, such as a baby’s crying signifying that it is hungry or tired

Definitions: the best way to understand a nameYou can understand a name on its own, but a

definition will help you understand it better or more perfectly

Definitions are tools of the mind!

Univocal names used in definitionA univocal name is said of many

things with the same meaningExample: “animal” can mean a dog,

cat, horse, or pink fairy armadillo “animal” means the same thing in each

case

This is NOT to be confused with an equivocal name, which is said of many things with a different meaning

Genus, species, and differenceGenus = a univocal name is said of many

things which are different in kind (animal)Species = a univocal name is said of many

things which differ as individuals (pink fairy armadillo)

Difference = the name which separates species under the same genus “rational” narrows the genus “animal” to the

species “man”

The kinds of definitionDefinition = speech signifying what a thing isDefinitions can define a thing, a name, or

bothnominal definition – only gives an account of

what the name isEssential definition – explains the essence of

something or “what it is to be”Most definitions contain both nominal and

essential elements

4 marks of a good definition1) the definition must be of something that

exists

2) the definition must be coextensive with the thing defined

must include everything the object/idea has and nothing it doesn’t

The definition should not be applicable to anything else!

4 marks continued3) a definition should give an account of the

cause of the thing defined Material cause – what the thing is made of Agent/efficient cause – the first source of the thing’s

motion Formal cause – what makes the thing to be what it is Final cause – the reason it exists/purpose

4) the defining terms must be better known than the thing defined

“We must go from the more known to the less known”

The 10 categories1. Substance (rock)2. Quantity (foot, meter)3. Relation (bigger)4. Quality (sweet)5. Action (burning)6. Passion (being burnt)7. Where (on the beach)8. Position (standing)9. When (yesterday)10. Outfit (shirted, dressed)

Quick review questionsWhat is a name?What does univocal mean? Equivocal?What is the difference between a genus and a

species?What is a difference?What is one mark of a good definition?Name 3 of the 10 categories